Collapsible egg-case.



MADISON L. FUNK, OF MADISON, OKLAHOMA.

COLLAPSIBLE EGG-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed .Tune 26, 1912.

Patented Dee. 9,1%13. Serial No. 766,615.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MADISON L. FUNK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Beaver and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements `in Collapsible Egg-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

The general object of this invention is the provision of a novel collapsible case which is constructed so that the same may be readily Set up and assembled for use, Said case being provided with a cover which .is adapted to be locked in engagement therewith, said cover being; adapted to receive the case when in a folded position and retain the Same therein, whereby the parts will be prevented from being' misplaced or lost during the Shipment, said case being` also constructed so as to occupy a minimum amount of space when not in use.

In carrying;I out the objects of the inven tion generally stated above, it will be under stood, of course, that the essential features thereof are susceptible to changes in details and Structural arrangements, one preferred and practical embodiment being` shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of the case assembled and constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal Sectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line substantially through the center of said case. Fig. e is a view similar to Fig. 3 showingthe case in folded position.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters designate similar parts, it will be seen that the invention comprises a bottom 5 having extending from one of its longitw dinal edges a Strip 6 which is adapted to have secured thereto in any ordinary well known manner the hinges 7. One of the sides 8 of the casing is also adapted to be connected to the hinges 7 whereby the said sides may be folded inwardly upon the bottom when the case is knocked down. The opposite longitudinal edge of the bottom 5 is also provided with the hinges 9 to which is Seemed the other side l0 of the easing` which is also adapted to be swung inwardly upon the bottom when the case is folded, it being` understood that the side 10 is the first one to be folded upon the bottom so that the side 8 may rest upon the same in a substan tially flat position` The Strip G and the sides S and l0 are provided with a plurality of transversely arranged slots 1l, the slots adjacent the ends of said sides being adapted to receive the ends 12 of the casingwhich also engage similarly formed slots 13 in the bottom 5 which are adapted to register with the slots ll of the sides. rlhe slots intermediate the ends of the Sides are adapted to receive a partition 11i which is adapted to divide the case into separate compartments.

A cover l5 is provided for the case which has an annular depending flange eonsistilngof Side and end pieces i6 and 17 respectively, said sides and ends being connected by the angular cleats 18 which are secured thereto by means of suitable fasteners 19. rlhe side pieces 1G have secured to their bottom edges medially of the ends thereof the oppositely disposed plates 20, said plates extending longitudinally of the said sides and having` their outer surfaces flush with the bottom edges thereof. The plates 20 each have pivotally connected thereto a latch 2l which is adapted to engage the elongated slot 22 formed in the plate 23 which is carried by each of the sides 8 and l0. When the latches 2l are .in engagement with the slots 22 it will be seen that the cover is securely retained in position upon the case and when it .is desired to detach the Said cover, the latches may be rotated out of engagement with the slots 22 by means of the lugs 24 formed upon the pivot ends of said latches.

In folding the case the cover is first removed and inverted so as to act as a receptacle. rlhe ends' l2 and partition la are then removed from engagement from the sides and bottom of the case and inserted into the cover. The sides 10 and 8 are then folded upon the bottom in the order named and the whole is then inserted into the cover, the bottom 5 being uppermost. The latches 21 are then rotated so as to engage the bottom 5 thus preventing,- i. said bottom and sides from becoming' detached from the cover.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing", it will be seen that the invention contemplates providing an ease which is simple in construction thus reducing the cost of manufacture of the same to a. minimum and which is durable and effective in carrying' out the purpose for which it is designed.

That is claimed is r- A crate comprising a box like body including a bottom, sides hinged thereto and adapted to be folded onto the bottom in superimposed relation, ends removably secured to the bottom and adapted when in folded position to overlie and rest upon the uppermost side, and a cover having depending' side and end walls, said side and end walls being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the full transverse and longitudinal dimensions of the bottom, the side and end walls being permanently secured in fixed cover forming relation,- the height of said side and end walls ofthe cover corresponding` to the thickness of the body portion in folded relation whereby said body portion in inverted condition will be wholly housedl within the cover with the lower sun face of the' bottom fiush with the free edges of the side and end walls of the cover, and catches carried by the cover to engage the side walls of the body portion when the parte are in orate forming position and to oyerlie the lower surface of the bottom when the parts are in folded position.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MADISON L. FUNK.

Vitnesses CHns. N. BIRDsALL, ADDIE BIRDSALL.

Copies of this' patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

